Feed cutter and grinder



mm 28 1927. w. E. FRITZ FEED CUTTER AND GRINDER Filed Oct. 12. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l June 28 27.

w. E. FRITZ FEED CUTTER AND GRINDER Filed Oct. 12. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet W E. Fri]; 2

Patented June 28, 1927.

UNITED STATES WILLIEI E. FRITZ, OI INDIANOLA, NEBRASKA.

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Application filed 0mm 12, 1826. Serial m.141,195.

This invention relates to a machine for comminuting or reducing material, such as grain, hay, and the like, and provides a device which may be easily and quickly adjusted to reduce the material to the required size;

The invention provides a machine including a casing having a circumscribing wall in which outlets are provided, a band associated with the" said wall and having openings registering with the outlets thereof, means for adjusting the band to regulate the efiective size of the outlets or to close the same, as required, and a rotary cutter within the casing.

While the drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that in adapting the means to meet specific needs and requirements, the design may be varied and such other changes in the minor details of construction may be resorted to within the scope of the invention as claimed, without departing from the spirit thereof.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof, reference is to be had to the following "description and the drawings hereto attached, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical central sectional view of a feed cutter and -inder embod ing the invention, taken on t e line 1-1 0 Figure 4, the cutter being shown in full lines.

Figure 2'is a fragmentary view showing more clearly the means for attaching the band constitutin the cut-off.

Figure 3 is a etail perspective view of a member of the rotary cutter provided with the blades.

Figure 4 is a vertical central sectional view on the line 44 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5- is a fragmentary sectional view 7 showing more clearly the means whereby the material is adapted tobe fed to the machine.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and designated in the several views of the drawings by like reference characters.

The machine is mounted upon abase which, as shown,- comprises spaced longitudinal bars 1. Angle bars 2 are secured to the longitudinal bars 1 and their vertical flanges decrease from a middle oint toward the opposite 'ends, as indicate most clearly in Figure 1 of the drawings. A casing is mounte upon the base and connected to the vertical flanges of the angle-bars 2. The casing comprises side plates 3 and, 4 and a circumscribing or enclosing wall 5 which is open at the bottom, as indicated at 6, for the discharge of the material. The side plates 3 and 4 may be of any outline and are connected by transverse bolts 7 which are disposed inwardly from the enclosing wail 5. An annular wall 8 is clamped between the side plates 3 and 4 and is provided with openingset) which constitute outlets, said openings ing equi-distantly' spaced and provided in circumferential rows. A band 10 encircles the wall 8 and fits closely thereon and'is of annular form and loose to move freely about the wall 8 and between the side plates 3 and 4. Openings 11 are formed in the band 10 in position and number to register with the openings 9 in thei wall 8. Movement of the band 10 about the wall 8 regulates the efli'ective size of the outlets 9 or completely closes the same to cut off any discharge of material. The several elements 5, 8 and 10 are fitted in grooves or channels provided upon the inner side of the plates 3 and 4. The walls 5 and 8:- are fixed whereas the band or cut-ofi 10 is loose to move freely.

For convenience of adjusting the cut-off 10, a rod 12 is attached at one end to the cut- Ofl flnd passes through an opening 13 in the outer wall 5 of the casing and is threaded at its outer end upon which is mounted a nut14. A bracket 15 secured to the casing receives the nut 14 which has a swivel connection therewith, whereby rotation of the nut effects a longitudinal movement of the rod 12 and a circumferential movement of the cutoff 10, whereby to regulate the discharge outlets. A hand piece is fitted to the outer end of the nut 14 for convenience of rotating the nut when it is required to adjust the cut-oft.

Feed openings 17 and 18 are formed in the side plate 4 to admit of supplying-the material to be reduced, to the machine.

Fixed cutters 19 and 20 are located at the lower sideof the respective feed openin s 17 and 18. A hopper 21 attached to the side 4 of the casing delivers the material supplied thereto through the feed opening 17. Asimilar hopper 22 is arranged to deliver the ma-v terial supplied thereto through the feed 0pening 18. Small material such as grain may be supplied to the machine through the hopper 21, and other material such as hay and straw may be supplied to the machine through the hopper 22. A valve 23 is ,located within the hopper 22 and is free to swing at its lower end. The bottom of the hopper 22 inclines upwardly and outwardly from the machine and in consequence limits the outward movement of the valve 23, as shown most clearly in Figure 5, said valve being free to swing inwardly under the influence of the material fed to the machine, as will be readily appreciated.

A rotary cutter is disposed within the casing and comprises a shaft 24 and a plurality of bars 25 secured to the shaft to rotate therewith and arranged in different planes and at different angles, as shown most clearly in Figures 1 and 4. The shaft 24 passes through the sideplates 3 and 4 of the casing and is mounted in ball bearings attached to said plates. The cutter may be rotated in any manner and for convenience, a pulley 26 is fast to an end of the shaft 24. Blades 27 are attached to the bar 25 adjacent the side plate 4 and are adapted to cooperate with the fixed cutters 19 and 20, as indicated most clearly in Figure 5.

Small material such as grain is supplied.

to the hopper 21 and delivered thereby through the feed opening 17. The valve 23 prevents discharge of material through the hopper 22. Long material, such as hay and straw, is fed to the machine through the hopper 22 and opening 18, the valve 23 automatically opening as the material is advanced, but automatically closing as soon as the material clears the valve. It is observed that the fineness of the material may be regulated by adjusting the cut-off 10, the same being moved forwardly or backwardly by proper turning of the nut 14, as will be readily understood. For convenience of feeding fodder, kafir corn and the like, a table 28 extends from the hopper 22 and an endless conveyor 29 co-operates therewith to move the material over the table. a By feeding grain and hay a mixed feed may be produced.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is: v

1. A feed cutter and grinder comprising a casing including parallel side walls and an annular wall clamped between the side walls and provided with a plurality of outlets, a cut-01f mounted upon the annular wall and provided with openings registering with the outlets thereof, andla rotary cutter within the casing, the latter having a feed opening in a side wall thereof and cutting mechanism in the plane of the side wall in which the feed opening is formed.

2. In a machine of the character specified, a casing having a feed opening in a side wall thereof, a hopper associated with the feed opening, a valve within the hopper free to swing inwardly at its lower end but limited in its outward movement to normally close the hopper, andv a rotary cutter within the casing.

3. In a machine of the character specified, a casing including a side wall having upper and lower feed openings, a hopper associated with each of the feed openings for delivering material supplied thereto through the feed openings, a valve in the lower hopper free to swing inwardly at its lower end and limited in its outward movement to normally close the hopper, and a rotary'cutting mechanism within the casing.

4. A machine of the character specified comprising side plates, inner and outer circular walls clamped between the side plates, the outer wall having a discharge opening in its bottom and the inner wall provided with a plurality of outlets, an annular cutoff mounted upon the inner wall and provided with openings registering with .the outlets thereof, means mounted upon the outer wall and connected with the cut-off to effect adjustment thereof, a rotary cutter within the casing, one of the side walls having upper and lower feed openings, hoppers associated with the respective feed openings, and a hinge valve in the lower hopper and normally closing the same and free to swing inward at its lower end.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature.

' WILLIEM E. FRITZ. [if s.] 

